Europe calling Edwin Rodriguez

Bud Barth TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Published Thursday December 20, 2012 at 6:00 am

Rodriguez

Worcester super middleweight Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez is on the verge of signing a contract to compete in a unique four-man boxing tournament in Monte Carlo starting in March that could make him a millionaire by June.

Larry Army Jr., Rodriguez's manager, has a contract in hand and expects to sign it by the end of this week if no unforeseen legal technicalities arise.

The first-round bouts would be in March, with the winners meeting in June at a catchweight of 172 pounds, midway between the two weight categories of 168 and 175.

Army said “a very substantial amount of money” is involved, but couldn't give specifics because the purses are protected by a confidentiality agreement. However, all of the purses are six figures with the winner reportedly standing to earn close to $1 million.

“It's a great opportunity, just a tremendous opportunity,” Army said. “I don't see anything that will prevent this from moving forward other than an injury.”

The invitation was one of the plums from Team Rodriguez's visit to the WBC's 50th anniversary convention in Cancun, Mexico, during the first week of December. Army and Rodriguez returned with the No. 2 ranking in the WBC, up from No. 5, and at least four enticing opportunities for the two-time national amateur champion's next bout.

Another option, while not guaranteed, was a fight against Adonis Stevenson for the IBF super middleweight title. That title is expected to be forfeited by Carl Froch, who is determined to fight either Mikkel Kessler or Andre Ward — the only men to have beaten him — instead of making a mandatory title defense.

For the record, that's twice that Team Rodriguez has skirted a fight against Stevenson, although considering the alternatives this time, it's hardly a mistake.

As Army said about the purses involved in Monte Carlo, “You can't get that kind of money even in a world title fight.”

The other possibilities were an HBO “Boxing After Dark” main event on March 3 at Foxwoods Casino's MGM Grand Theater against an unnamed opponent, or an “HBO Championship Boxing” feature against former IBF champ Lucian Bute (31-1-0, 24 KOs) on March 23 in Montreal. It would have preceded the WBC light heavyweight title bout between Jean Pascal (27-2-1, 16) and champion Chad Dawson (31-2-0, 17).

The difference with the Monte Carlo offer, of course, is two paydays as opposed to one, plus the prospect of even greater exposure in the European markets, where Rodriguez is not as well known as in the U.S. And other offers will be there later, probably with even higher purses, Army said.

“That kind of exposure and that kind of money,” Army said, “would turn Edwin — if he wins, and we think he will — into an international quantity, which would open even more doors. …

“Edwin's chances of winning the tournament are exceptional. I say that not because I don't respect the other fighters, but I'm confident Edwin can handle any of these people.”

One thing in Rodriguez's favor is age. He's just 27 and in his prime, while Mendey just turned 39 last week and Erdei is 38. Sukhotsky is only 31, but other than one fight in Germany, he has never fought outside his native Russia.

Mendey suffered his only loss when he was KO'd in the fourth round by Bute in his last outing in July 2011. A year earlier, he was credited with a win over Sakio Bika when Bika was disqualified in the first round for hitting while Mendey was down.

When he takes on Rodriguez, Mendey will have fought less than four rounds in the last three years.